Congratulaaaaaaaations! We are happy to tell you that this contest was a great success, you do have indeed A LOVE FOR JAPAN!
Many of you sent us media about food, Geishas and dolls, but we also got very surprising entries about gardens, peace and respect.
You guys did a great job and some of your entries were also displayed at ADK's Headquarters in Tokyo! Congratz!
Let's see now who made it to the podium, it’s time for us to announce the winners for both categories: video and prints. Please find the Jury's comments in italics, followed by some words that the winners wanted to share about eYeka and the contest.For the videos:
First Prize of EUR 5,000 goes to antonio (Italy) with his great video Japan and Beyond.
Craftsmanship and minimalism, which are definitely the strenght of Japanese culture, are well illustrated. Simple but very sophisticated executions enables to convey the depth of Japanese culture.

I've heard about eYeka a few months ago from a friend who participated in a contest, and I immediately liked the website's concept and democratic spirit. Stand for Japan appeared to be the ideal "first project" to begin a relationship with eYeka. I had an idea and I called a Photographer friend to help me. A Producer that usually works with me convinced Feng (Keen) Zheng, a talented young sushi chef from a great New York restaurant, to join us. We brought in a couple of Salmons from Chinatown and shot the video in a couple of hours in a studio in Manhattan. Lullatone, a band based in Nagoya, Japan, gave us their music and I asked Saori Yamamoto to edit the image on it-- because she was both Japanese and the best editor I knew.

Second Prize of EUR 2,000 goes to raphaele (France) with the original Japan's detailsAmazed with thorough attention to details in Japanese culture, from a very unique perspective Japanese people cannot think of.

I find out eyeka when I was surfing on the internet looking for call for entries. I choose to participate in a contest when I need money and that the subject inspires me. I was inspired by the Japan contest because I've been there, liked it and had a lot to say. My creative process is: first I think about what I want to say and try to find images that will not only illustrate my point but add something to it.

Third Prize of EUR 1,000 goes to folarinpearse (Nigeria) with his unexpected Question from AfricaLove for Japanese animations is lively depicted. This work would make every Japanese smile and realize the impact of its exported culture one can be proud of.

Where do I start. I'm a video director, animator and graphic designer. I have a couple of friends who introduced me to the site and I saw it as an avenue to get an international audience for my work. The Stand for Japan contest made me realize that we do have a fascination for Japanese culture. From clothing to food, cartoons to gadgets. But for me personally it's manga! I've been watching them long before I was old enough to watch them. I love the detail and dedication in the animation. As an animator myself I understand the amount of work it takes and I appreciate it on every level. Unfortunately, there are not too many of people like me around who animate so I work alone most of the time. In Question from Africa, I got my friends who actually get together on Saturday nights to watch movies (Mangas included). So they were re enacting what they do every week.

For the prints:First Prize of EUR 2,500 goes to remille(France) with his photo of Mr FujiWhile showing popular motif Mount Fuji, this work stands out as it brings to light the way the Japanese interact with nature and the meaning to it. View of quietly waiting for the sunrise in hope also resonates with the mind of many Japanese people today.

I heard about Eyeka thanks to a friend who takes part in competitions and calls for nominations. Because I have in laws and extended family in Japan, the "Support Japan" topic was very close to my heart. We have been incredibly touched by the disasters Japan went through in 2011, first the tsunami and then its consequences on the Fukushima power plant. Winning this prize and being rewarded for this picture is simply amazing. I would like to warlmy thank Eyeka and the competition team. This picture seemed perfect for this conmpetition as it suggests hope and rebirth. The people on the foreground are like a representation of the Japanese people. The black shapes do not give any indication on identities but the amount of people present and their proximity give an impression of structure and support. Every shadow is alone, in contemplation whithin this human tide in such a remote place. Photography is a passion since almost 10 years, I still mostly work with silver films and develop them in my lab. I much prefer the magic of chemistry than the one of computers. My photographic work is not purely documentary, I sometimes stage my subjects, the only rule I have set for myself is not to capture moments without the subjet knowing it. As for the "Mount Fuji" picture it is very simple, I took a shot, like several thouthands of people, in this place and at this moment. Mine distances itself from the other ones becasue it focuses on this unobtrusing crowd enjoying a magical moment .

Second Prize of EUR 1,500 goes to ruben(France) with his illustration of My window view in a Japanese folding screen Very inspirational and fresh interpretation on Japanese aestetics by bringing its technique and craftsmanship into his own culture and daily life. Two different cultures beautifully merged.

I knew eyeka because my boyfriend told he knows always everything. He heard about a graphic contest concerning Japan, knowing my love for this country he pushed me to participate. I just competes to one contest " soutenez le japon" because I feel very very close to this country and its culture. When I visited it felt like I've grown up there, may be cause of the thousand Japanese animes I watched when I was a child. Graphic designer is not my real job , I call my self "info-collagiste" and illustrator. I do it like a passion, some times I accept professional mission but just if it's an artistic one. I begin my work with a brainstorming, a images research, I inform myself vary much about the subject I have to work with. Then I try to find the subject ( in this case japan) in things that surround me , that are close to me in the moment when I start to create and sometimes I like to mix it with images stocked in my memory. For example, I've always loved folding-screen and I told my self longtime ago " one day I will find the right inspiration to use it" and here it is. I usually use computer to create but IO use also photos and drawing. I don't like to use real colouring techniques because I hate to clean after. haha That's why when I discovered graphic softwares they become my " doudou" , as we say in France I think this can be translate with " teddy bear". To be more precise about myself I'll write some lines down here about my studies and experiences: I started learning fashion design an Marangoni fashion school in Milan when I was 19 years old. I quit to move to Paris where I attended Studio Berçot fashion school. I worked for different fashion houses ( cacharel, Balenciaga...) This was about during 3 years.... But in reality this was a phase in my life , my real job is classical music, I'm a classical singer specialising in barock music. SURPRISE!

Third prize of EUR 1,000 goes to Cedricabt(France) with his painting Jakura Author's deep understanding and love for Japanese culture is shown through the use of different Japanese symbols from old to new in a harmonious way.

I have met eYeja while looking for illustration contests online, i liked the website because I found interesting offers. I participate in contests because it is a good way to create images. I find it nice to have a precise theme, a slogan, a text or a message to respect, it makes it easier to create in that direction. I joined this specific contest because the theme was interesting, Japan is a country with multiple facets and for me japanese animation has always been infuencing. Though this contest I wanted to share all those elements that are present in our daily life. I usually work as an illustrator for kid's books and i work "old-school" but I use sometimes digital tools as well, because it makes it faster. I work one idea at the time, I start noting the elements in relation with the theme and then i make a quick scketch and I start painting.

Congratulation! And for everyone who have taken a part in this contest, well done and thank you very much! We loved all of your creations :-)